Seattle has a vision to transform how its transportation systems are fueled and is preparing to overhaul all city-owned transport fleets with electric vehicles.
In order to help reach its ambitious goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions attributable to transport by 2050, Seattle is spurring the mass electrification of many modes of transport, including passenger cars, trucks, transit, off-road, and maritime transportation through its Drive Clean Initiative. The measure includes a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the city’s municipal fleet through significant investment in energy-efficient vehicles and cleaner fuels and deployment of 15,000 electric vehicles by 2025.
A 50% reduction in the municipal fleet’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2025
Cities100 – 2016
The initiative includes not only the municipal fleet electrification strategy but also infrastructure investment by Seattle City Light, opportunities for public-private partnerships, and use of regulations to accelerate the process. The city’s commitment to low-carbon transportation modes has already attracted investments, as BMW relocated the North American headquarters of its car-sharing service – ReachNow – to Seattle.
The challenge
Sixty-five percent of Seattle’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. The city confronts this issue head-on with its Drive Clean Initiative and other ambitious measures that will drive mass electrification and reform its transport system for the future.
Co-benefits
Economic The city’s expenditure on energy will decrease with the transition to electricity-powered transport, as it will reduce fuel expenses and turn resources towards in-state electricity providers.
Environmental The shift to electric vehicles will help abate the 60% annual pollutant load attributable to vehicle emission runoff into Puget Sound, the nation’s second-largest estuary.
Health The elimination of tailpipe emissions from fossil fuel-burning engines provides significant health benefits to local communities.
About Seattle
Seattle is a seaport city on the west coast of the United States. With an estimated 704,352 residents as of 2016, Seattle is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Seattle has a noteworthy musical history and is the birthplace of rock musician Jimi Hendrix, origin of the bands Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and the alternative rock movement grunge.
